PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Stories and artwork build community and connect us (even if we can’t be physically together). Reading or telling stories or simply appreciating someone’s creativity are great ways to learn about and engage with others.
The Aroostook Area Agency on Aging is celebrating Older Americans Month in May and Presque Isle’s First Friday Art Night on May 2 provides an opportunity to “Flip the Script on Aging” by recognizing creativity at any age.
Just starting out on her artistic expression journey is Olivia Reid, a promising 16-year-old artist from Fort Fairfield and currently a sophomore at Truth Learning Academy in New Brunswick. She specializes in both oil and acrylic painting, with a particular fascination for sketching and painting faces. Reid turned to art as a creative outlet during the educational disruptions in 2020 and 2021.
Initially, her style featured predictable still life models and geometric shapes, but it quickly evolved into a focus on portraiture. As she continues to develop her artistic style, Reid strives to create a striking balance between realistic portraiture and abstract elements.
Reid is self-taught and draws inspiration from other artists through their social media channels and physical artwork. She states, “Art allows me to express emotions and stories that words sometimes can’t capture. I love exploring the beauty of faces and the feelings they convey.”
Also featured during the Art Night will be a new writer for the area. Dana Allison will sign copies of her new children’s book “Snowflake, The Little White Kitty, Disappears”. Beginning as a letter to her granddaughter and fabric artist Persephone Bennett, it has developed into a children’s book for new readers.
Bennett at age 5 drew pictures for the story because “a proper book needed pictures.” She was asked to revisit the story many years later as she was embarking on her own career as an artist, drawing fresh illustrations to complement the story.
“Snowflake” begins with some insight into the daily life of a master quilter, letting her cats join the dog outside on a winter’s day. One cat does not return. The story continues as the household adjusts to the change and then the kitty comes back. Relatable to anyone who has owned a pet, the illustrations bring the characters to life as the story unfolds. Written for beginners and people who love them, it helps to build confidence for new generations of readers.
At 90-plus years, Allison has contributed much to the artists of The County. She and her husband, the late Dr. Horace Allison, Jr., came to Aroostook County 60 years ago. Dr. Allison had been invited by the medical staff of A.R. Gould Hospital to open a pediatric practice in 1965.. Allison, while a mother to five, pursued many areas of interest including porcelain painting, embroidery, story quilting and operating a fabric store for several years. She also served as a member of the SAD 1 school board for 27 years. Known for her quilts, she has exhibited her story quilts in several venues. This is her first children’s book
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call the Agency on Aging at 207- 764-3396 or 1-800-439-1789.
